Pok’s Football Week in Review: USF Spring Game & Transfer Portal

The football landscape has been eventful lately, but things got taken to another level this week!

After an eventful beginning on April 15, the spring edition of the transfer portal (mostly) wrapped up on April 25. Outside of plenty of Power 4 movement, some big names at FIU, USF, and FAU decided to make a change for the 2025 regular season.

Most exciting of all, USF wrapped up its spring with a Saturday night spring game. Between an electric environment and some great on-field performances, the Bulls look poised to make some real noise in 2025.

We have plenty of fun things to dive into this week, so without further ado, let’s dive into the latest edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review!

USF  Football Shows a Roster Ready to Roll in 2025

I have attended some great spring games over the past two months, courtesy of FIU and FAU. The FIU Panthers showed great energy and potential in the first game action under new head coach Willie Simmons. Meanwhile, the Owls looked revitalized, both from a football and fanbase perspective. With a young roster and head coach in Zach Kittley, FAU showed that they could be ready to flip the script in 2025.

When it comes to USF, though, the energy, environment, and on-field play showed a team gearing up to take a big step forward in 2025.

USF held a Street Fest outside Corbett Stadium that started before the game kicked off and ended around halftime of the spring game. The event had activities, merchandise, and plenty of food and beverages to fill fans up before the game.

One of the busiest areas was the For the Bay Clothing Company stand. In the midst of fans and students flowing in and out, I had a chance to interview owner Dave Gesacion about working with the school and what he is looking forward to this season!

 

But no matter where you looked or who you talked to, there was one common theme: the USF fanbase is excited for their team this season. And based on Saturday night’s game, the capacity crowd of 5,360 is right to have positive thoughts about the upcoming 2025 season.

On offense, the Bulls showed a breakneck, fast-paced offense. It is evident that USF wants to outrun and outpace their opponents on defense. If USF had a positive offensive play, they were almost instantly ready to run the next play. If they had an incomplete pass, they were still on the football in a quick manner.

Putting pressure on the defense with its pace, the Bulls challenged the defense to rise to the occasion with the variety of plays they had to defend. USF’s offense utilized multiple formations and splits for their wideouts; ranging from bunch formations to stack formations, allowing the same plays and concepts to be run from different formations. They had a solid rushing attack that created consistent yardage and allowed the running backs to make plays in space.

Throughout the day, the Bulls deployed motion, RPOs, and screens to keep the defense off balance. This allowed the unit to hit big plays over the top on a semi-consistent basis. Deep passes were a staple in last year’s offense, and the spring game showed that 2025 may have the same in store. The quarterbacks were accurate and precise, while the receivers either made contested catches or created enough separation to make clean catches.

On the other hand, the USF defense had some really impressive moments throughout the day.

The defensive line was stout against the run on the interior, generating good push up front on a variety of different run plays. As a pass-rushing unit, the Bulls were blazing downhill and making plays. For as many deep plays and completions the offense had, the defense punched back with sacks and pressures.

In the secondary, the Bulls had some impressive pass breakups and interceptions. Not only did they run stride for stride with the offense’s impressive wideouts, but they also had some great breaks on the ball to make impactful turnovers. This does not even include the mentality the secondary and linebackers played with in the run game, attacking downhill while looking to make big-time hits.

From the pre-game to the post-game, USF showed all of the makings of a football program ready to take a big leap. They have a roster with great potential, a head coach who is setting an upper-level culture, and a school/fanbase that is creating a great environment. It is a bit of a cliché term, but 2025 could truly be a Year of the Bull if things go according to plan.

Standouts: USF Spring Game

In what was a very eventful spring football game, there were a good chunk of players on the USF Bulls who stood out to me.

At quarterback, freshman Locklan Hewlett looked like a future big-time contributor for the Bulls. The three-star quarterback looked like a seasoned vet throwing the football, consistently making the correct decisions with perfect placement on his throws. Hewlett went 13-of-14 for 110 yards and three touchdowns, with his only incompletion coming on an interception in the end zone where his wideout tripped.

What stood out the most was how Hewlett did a bit of everything during the game. The freshman showcased great arm strength on multiple deep passes that went for touchdowns. He showed touch with throws on the run, specifically on his last touchdown to wideout Brandon Winton. He even showed off great rushing ability, racking up 36 yards on the ground during the game.

Senior Bryce Archie had 11 completions on 18 attempts, throwing for 97 yards. Archie looked solid with his reads, showing off arm strength on multiple occasions. He even displayed throw-on-the-run ability.

The senior could have had even more yards on the day, as his first throw was a picture-perfect deep ball that beat multiple defenders. However, the wide receiver could not bring it in. Although he had some misfires during the day, Archie showed the traits and skillset that make him a solid backup for star quarterback Byrum Brown, who did not play in the spring football game.

At the running back position, Alvon Isaac and Nykahi Davenport stood out as multi-faceted players for the Bulls.

Isaac notched 50 yards on eight carries and looked explosive with the ball in his hands. As a runner, he showed quick twitch ability and a good sense of how to read blocks. Slowing himself slightly behind the offensive line, the running back then hit the hole quickly to gain yardage. Isaac showed that he can get the tough yardage and rip off the big plays that the USF offense is always searching for.

Additionally, Isaac showed impact potential in the receiving game. The running back displayed soft hands and the coveted ability to transition from a pass-catcher to a receiver. As he has done all spring, Isaac showed that he is ready to make a huge impact for the Bulls this season.

Davenport, a sophomore, showed a distinct downhill and smooth running style. He attacked the rushing lanes, making decisive reads and movements with his athletic ability. I enjoyed the power and speed combination that he showed off, which differed from Isaac’s shiftiness and quick twitch movements.

Davenport also showed off similar pass-catching ability to Isaac. When catching the ball, the running back immediately got upfield and quickly shifted into being a runner. Heading into the 2025 regular season, the running back duo looks to be a fun one for the Bulls.

The wide receiver position saw a handful of players stand out under the Saturday night lights in Tampa, setting them up to be key contributors in 2025.

Brandon Winton was arguably the star of the show, racking up two touchdowns on the day while displaying a great connection with Hewlett. In the short area of the field, the wideout was shifty and creative with his moves. Winton made defenders miss as a ball carrier while also ensuring that he got the necessary yardage for the offense.

Down the field, Winton was simply electric. The sophomore wide receiver raced past defenders and displayed impressive contested catch ability, specifically on his first touchdown catch of the day. From his standout performance, it truly looked like Winton is ready to break out in a big way in 2025.

Despite a drop, Tennessee transfer Chas Nimrod showed why he was a coveted player in the transfer portal for the Bulls. He displayed smooth route running, strong hands, and the necessary deep speed to truly be a weapon in the 2025 offense. Nimrod, on the play where his drop occurred, blazed by the defenders and would have cruised into the end zone on a perfect throw from Archie. Heading into the season, Nimrod is in a great spot to contribute and have success.

Junior wide receiver JeyQuan Smith also showed why he is a perfect fit in the Bulls’ offense, flying down the field for two big plays in the beginning stage of the game. Perhaps a preview of his 2025 utilization, Smith raced past defenders on separate occasions to notch 61 yards and a touchdown. In a scheme that hunts for the big plays, Smith could easily make an instant impact. He also showed off a new touchdown celebration for the fans in attendance.

Two freshman wideouts also stood out during the game: Kory Pettigrew and Jeremiah Koger.

Koger showed smooth route running throughout the spring, and it translated Saturday night. Whether on short routes or deep routes, he displayed a good understanding of how to play the position in the Bulls’ offense. Most impressively, Koger made a leaping contested catch over multiple defenders, showing that he can make plays in traffic too.

Meanwhile, Pettigrew showcased deep speed and separation ability. His biggest play was on a great pass from Hewlett. Racing down the seam, he caught the pass in stride and ripped off more chunk yardage to flip the field. The wideout has a fun skillset, and along with Koger, could be the future for the Bulls at wideout.

Furthermore, tight ends Wyatt Sullivan and Jonathan Echols look primed to be key contributors to the team’s 2025 offense. Echols showed off good hands and route running, while also showing that he can use his frame to pick up tough yardage or make key blocks.

Sullivan, a pickup from FAU this winter, was explosive as a pass-catcher in space. On a screen pass, the tight end picked up easy yardage and kept the offense rolling. Sullivan was also a willing blocker, showcasing his versatility that he will bring to the Bulls’ football team.

On defense, defensive lineman Josh Celiscar was a force in all areas of the game. Against the run, the Texas A&M transfer was stout and did not give up much ground to offensive linemen. He was the centerpiece of some of the best plays the defensive line made all day, notching 2.5 TFLs and six total tackles.

Celiscar might have been better against the pass, though. Notching two sacks on the day, the defensive lineman was flying into the backfield and creating havoc for the defense. If it was not clear already, the spring football game showed that Celiscar is going to be heavily relied upon by the Bulls’ defense.

Dinellson Exume wrecked shop in the run game, blowing up multiple plays and getting into the backfield consistently. Ira Singleton was a force in the backfield as well, flying in for two sacks.

Ashton Mosley notched a sack at the BB position, while freshman linebacker Gavin Leach stood out with six tackles and a sack. Freshman edge rusher Brooks Williams Jr. flew off the edge for a sack too, displaying his high upside as a player.

In the secondary, sophomore James Chenault had the best statistical performance of the day. Notching four tackles, the cornerback showed a willingness to attack downhill. He also showed impressive ball skills, racing toward the ball and making a leaping interception toward the end of the game. Like the young players on offense, Cheanault has put himself in a great position to succeed in 2025.

Additionally, Jaelen Stokes made a nice interception against Hewlett, ranging over to make the play and then racing down the sideline.

Cornerback Jonas Duclona had some great coverage throughout the day, including a great recovery to breakup a pass intended for Chas Nimrod.

Important & Standout Quotes

Head Coach Alex Golesh on the progression of the transfers over the spring and what he wants from the new transfers coming in: “I give a lot of credit to the guys that were here for taking these guys that we bring in and accepting them, and helping them grow. Guys like Chas Nimrod come in and have played a ton of football. But if you come in and are just off to the side, and they resent you for coming in, it is never going to work. That receiver room has taken him in, the quarterback room has taken him in, and Chas is the best version of himself right now. Josh Celiscar has come in and been a phenomenal leader defensively for us. Tommy Shrader has been really steady for us on the interior defensive line.

It’s more so a credit to our guys who have brought them in. They have not said ‘you are bringing them in to replace me,’ but ‘you are bringing them in to compete with me.’ That is the true sign of a mature football team. The expectation was for those guys to go compete in the spring, and again, a lot of credit to our current players for integrating them into the culture and teaching them about the standard of how we do things here,” said Golesh.

“The expectation, as we bring guys in from the portal, is that they come in and compete. Every single guy I sit down with in my office or talk to on the phone, on the portal side, is you are going to come in to add to this culture, or you are not going to come in. I feel like that can get lost sometimes, especially as you panic because you need a spot. I am super, super guarded about our culture. You are either adding to the culture, or you are not coming in here. There is no negotiating there. That’s why you see the guys that we have brought in have added to the culture. If they were on the line, we have put it on our older guys to make sure that they are adding to it, and not taking away from it.

There are two types of guys that we bring in from the portal: the guys who need reps that you are bringing in to play, or young guys from Florida, Georgia, or players that we recruited on the front end, that we did not initial get, that you want to bring back to develop. But all of those guys have some ties to us. We want these guys to add to our culture.”

QB Bryce Archie on how he has progressed over the spring and what he is looking to improve on over the summer: “I feel like I was just growing as a quarterback, knowing what that means on and off the field. And then just executing with what I have. Last year, in my opinion, I was not the best with my decision-making. This spring, I made it a point to work on it. I feel like it showed a lot. I was better with my decision-making, and as an offense, we looked a lot better with our execution.

Recruiting Recap: The Transfer Portal Finale

In the “official” ending of the spring transfer portal window, there was plenty of movement from FIU, FAU, and USF. Not only did players decided to leave in the waning hours, but plenty of players committed during this window too. Additionally, some high school players made their official commitment known in this time frame.

FIU Panthers

Over the course of this past week, the Panthers saw a decent handful of players opt to leave in search of new homes for the 2025 college football season.

The most notable name of all was running back Ajay Allen. A key addition for the Panthers in the winter transfer portal, the running back was set to lead the FIU room.

However, that is no longer the reality for the Panthers. Allen immediately committed to Tulsa, a school much closer to home and one that will likely give him more touches than he would have received at FIU.

The Panthers will now rely on Kejon Owens and Devonte Lyons to headline their 2025 backfield. The good thing for the Panthers, though, is that both players showed impressive ability to carry the offensive throughout the spring.

The Panthers also lost OL Wyatt Lawson, DL Jamarrion Solomon, WR Luby Maurice Jr., WR Reece Larson, WR Nicholas Smith, DL Anthony Alcazar, and DB Jacob Camacho.

Solomon, in his first year of true playing time, was a pass-rushing savant for the Panthers. He generated 20 pressures and one sack, resulting in an elite 85.0 pass rushing grade. Solomon also had solid run defense, notching 15 tackles and 12 defensive stops. Regardless of his late entry into the portal, the defensive tackle looks to be a nice addition to a college defense for this season.

Lawson appeared in 10 football games in 2024 and displayed some premier pass protection ability. On 97 pass blocking reps, Lawson allowed zero sacks, quarterback hits, and one overall pressure. On his career as a whole, Lawson has only allowed four sacks and three quarterback hits. It will be fascinating to see who takes a shot on the interior offensive lineman, as Lawson could add solid production to a team in 2025.

Receivers Nicholas Smith and Reece Larson did not see game action for the Panthers during their time with the team. Larson spent time at Appalachian State before landing in Miami, while Smith was a three-star wide receiver who had offers from Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, and Arkansas State.

Meanwhile, Luby Maurice did not catch a pass in 2024, but did rush for his first career touchdown in 2024. He is a toolsy wideout who had multiple Power 4 offers out of high school, such as Wake Forest and Duke. Maurice is a fun player who could easily develop into a regular contributor for an offense.

Alcazar was a depth option for the Panthers’ defensive line, while Camacho did not see any playing time during his stint with the team.

On the commitment side of things, the Panthers landed offensive lineman Sean Kentish. An interior player at 6-feet-4-inches and 305 pounds, Kentish chose FIU over Georgia State, Liberty, and Cornell. It is a good add for the Panthers, who get a piece for the future of the Willie Simmons-led offense.

USF Bulls

For USF, they lost cornerbacks Camren Campbell and Brent Austin, and interior offensive lineman D’Wayne Bain.

Campbell was a very coveted cornerback prospect who was the 125th best player in the state of Florida. He had offers from the likes of Michigan State, Louisville, and Texas A&M. He displayed impressive talent on both sides of the ball during his high school career. If he finds a landing spot in the portal, Campbell could be a very fun contributor for a program in 2025.

Austin, who transferred to USF from James Madison for the 2024 season, was a lockdown player and a good tackler. He had 47 tackles and 12 defensive stops for the Bulls, while only missing nine tackles. In coverage, Austin had 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. He only allowed one touchdown and  23 receptions for 307 yards on 56 targets. Looking for a new home before the 2025 season, Austin will surely bring upper-level coverage ability to whatever school he lands at.

Bain, an IOL who was a part of the Bulls’ 2024 class, did not appear in a game last season. He was projected as depth for USF this season.

On the commitment side, USF has put in considerable work on the portal and high school football recruiting.

The Bulls landed cornerback Izaiah Guy from Georgia State, running back Sam Franklin from the University of Oklahoma, and West Florida DL Traevon Mitchell.

Guy, who played two seasons with the Panthers, had 41 tackles, 15 defensive stops, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. He brings nice size, versatility, and potential to the Bulls’ secondary.

Franklin, who joined the Sooners last season after three seasons at Tennessee-Martin, is a powerful, downhill runner. He has 2,238 yards and 20 touchdowns on 332 carries throughout his four seasons. Franklin has 1,400 yards after contact, 87 missed tackles forced, and 36 designed runs of 15 yards or more. The running back could be an instant-impact contributor for USF’s offense, specifically as a power-based runner.

Mitchell had 130 career tackles and had a whopping 14 tackles for loss at Chowan in 2023. Between his time at Chowan and West Florida, the defensive tackle has shown himself to be a force on the interior of the defensive line. Mitchell could make a huge impact for the Bulls in 2025, adding to what is shaping up to be a very fun football team.

As far as recruiting, the Bulls landed wideout D’Mari Roberts, long snapper Kyle Rushing, and TE/EDGE Rinaldo Callaway.

Roberts is a toolsy wideout who had football offers from UCF, FIU, and Pittsburgh, among others. With size and speed, he is a perfect fit for the Bulls’ offensive scheme and will likely develop nicely in Tampa.

Meanwhile, Rushing was seeing some interest from schools like Auburn and Mississippi State, but ultimately decided to commit to the Bulls.

 

Callaway committed to the Bulls over Wake Forest, ECU, Bryant, Troy, and Liberty. At tight end, Callaway uses his size to outmuscle defenders. On defense, Callaway plays with power in his hands. He consistently knocks back defenders and sets a hard edge in the run game. As a pass-rusher, Callaway displayed bend, power, and hand usage beyond his years. I can easily see the TE/EDGE making a big impact for the Bulls once he arrives on campus.

FAU Owls

For the Owls, they lost a key defensive player in Jayden Williams. The defensive back was a key contributor over three seasons, providing a mix of run defense and coverage ability. Williams had one of his best seasons in 2024; he notched 21 tackles and 10 defensive stops while posting a 62.7 tackling grade. In coverage, Williams had one pass breakup, two interceptions, and only allowed 84 yards receiving.  This led to him posting a 76.7 coverage grade, the best of his career.

With Williams moving on to UCF, the Owls will have to rely on their younger players and transfers even further in 2025. But with the talent they have and have added, FAU could soften the blow of losing a key veteran presence on the football team.

On the other hand, the Owls have been extremely active in the waning days of the college football spring transfer portal window.

To start things off, FAU signed veteran quarterback Zach Gibson. Gibson first arrived in college as a part of the 2019 class and has appeared in games for Akron, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State. Passing for 4,072 yards and 23 touchdowns in his career, Gibson has the ability to push the ball down the field and hit passes in shorter windows. He will likely serve in a backup role for the Owls this season, who can steady the ship in a pinch.

Sticking with offense, the Owls also landed tight end Mike Kirch, OL Vince Fiacable, OL Carson Osmus, and OL Qae’Shon Sapp.

Kirch, who played at Thomas More, recorded 37 catches for 372 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. Over the past two seasons, he has 10 touchdowns and over 600 receiving yards. He has the potential to be a contributor for the Owls’ offense at tight end this season.

Fiacbale, who splayed sporadically at Indiana from 2022-2023, displayed some nice pass blocking ability, He displayed zero pressures over eight snaps and has the versatility to play all over the line. Considering his eligibility, keep an eye on the former Hoosier making an impact on offense this season.

Osmus, on the other hand, looks like a target that Zach Kittley and his staff want to develop. Despite not playing in 2024 for Washington State, the offensive lineman has the size, physical ability, and potential to make a big impact for the Owls in the future, or possibly this year.

Sapp has played sporadically over his time at SMU and Florida State for the past three years. But as a former four-star football recruit who has the size and skill to play multiple positions on the interior, Sapp could be an instant-impact player for the Owls if he has a strong summer.

On defense, the Owls landed cornerback Terez Reid, defensive tackle Earl Miller Jr., defensive back LJ Hall, and cornerback Jayden Sweeney.

Reid had transferred to UTEP and spent the 2025 spring season with the Miners. Before then, Reid spent his first four years at Grand Valley State. He posted 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, three interceptions, and seven pass breakups in 2024, which built upon his 41 tackles and seven pass breakups in 2023. In a unheralded secondary room, Reid could make an impact in short order for the Owls.

Earl Miller Jr. was a very good interior defensive lineman at Bethune-Cookman in 2024, racking up six pressures, 17 tackles, and 12 defensive stops. Miller could be an emerging impact player for a fun FAU defensive scheme.

Hall offers developmental upside at cornerback as a younger player, while Sweeney could be more of a 2025 impact player. The former Liberty defender has some room to grow as a coverage player, but he was a thumper in the run game. With 12 tackles, six defensive stops, and an elite 89.8 run defense grade, Sweeney could be a huge asset to a defense looking to fly around the football field in 2025.

And, in a recent update, FAU also received two defensive backs from the transfer portal. The first is former UTEP DB Dillion Williams. Williams had 34 tackles last year with an interception. The UTEP safety was graded as one of the best at the position in the C-USA conference last year by PFF.

The second player was former Texas Southern DB Mikado “MJ” Hinson. Hinson comes in as a sophomore who had three interceptions and 33 tackles for TSU last year.

And that brings us to the end of part one of this week’s football column! Stay tuned for Part 2, which will dive into my favorite picks and the most underrated picks from every round of the 2025 NFL draft! Thank you for reading along, and see you again soon!